When Salmoneus (Robert Trebor) leaves for King Midas' new gambling palace, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) goes along in order to renew his friendship with the legendary king. The first indication that something is wrong, however, occurs when Hercules interrupts two sword-wielding soldiers about to kill a couple of hungry boys for stealing apples. When they reach the Touch of Gold Gambling Palace, Hercules and Salmoneus are dismayed to find a gaudy emporium offering many attractions designed to separate the poor from their money. After meeting Midas' new partner, the beautiful but evil Voluptua (Jennifer Ward-Lealand), Hercules is further disgusted to see hordes of people wager on two boys walking a tightrope over a bed of spikes. When he intercedes to catch the first boy before he is impaled, Voluptua plots to add Hercules to the Palace's crowd-pleasing entertainments.
When Segallus (Terry Batchelor), Voluptua's chief thug, accosts Midas' daughter Flaxen (Tracy Lindsey), Hercules decides to teach him some manners and walks right into a trap. As he confronts Segallus, a curtain rises and Hercules finds himself in a boxing arena. Though he does not wish to be part of the show, a squad of soldiers attacks him. After flinging them around the arena, a second squad runs at him. Hercules defeats them all but when Voluptua offers him a bag of gold coins as reward, he refuses.
Meanwhile, Hercules' presence has stirred a moral reaction in Midas. No longer willing to lend his name and cooperation to Voluptua's gambling establishment, he quits his post. In return, he is beaten senseless by Segallus and thrown into a cage. When Hercules finds him, Midas is tied with a crossbow aimed at his head and the trigger mechanism tied to his daughter Flaxen. Voluptua offers Hercules a challenge -- in order to free Midas and Flaxen, he must defeat a succession of adversaries in the boxing arena, then fight Segallus, all before a burning fuse releases the crossbow's trigger. Hercules faces the contestants bravely, and dispatches them all, in spite of their dirty tactics. He also defeats Segallus and inspires the townspeople to revolt against Voluptua and destroy the Palace. Finally, a grateful Midas and Flaxen set about rebuilding the kingdom as it used to be.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules)
Guest Starring: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus), Tracy Lindsey (Flaxen), Jennifer Ward-Lealand (Voluptua), Noel Trevarthen (King Midas), Terry Batchelor (Segallus), Margaret-Mary Hollins (Hispides), Max Cryer (Barker), Alexander Gandar (Zacharias), Joseph Greer (Romanus), David Scott (Pawnicles), Peter Rowley (Comic), Dale Corlett (Thaddeus), James O'Farrell (Ironhead), Ray Sefo (Alee)
Written by Craig Volk
Directed by Garth Maxwell